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We’re Missing Out On Targets – Should We Be Concerned?

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“IT’S not my business that there is talk about whether I go to Liverpool or stay. It doesn’t matter to me, I am Roma,” were the words spoken by Fabio Borini on Tuesday when he was asked about whether he had given consideration to a move to Liverpool.

The Italian striker, having spent last season at the Italian club, had decided to stay with Roma after a good season, not just turning Liverpool down but dismissing any possible interest in a fairly offhand manner.

From my point-of-view, it was something of a blessing for us, as I didn’t believe he was the right type of player to solve our goal-scoring issues and would have cost too much to sit on the bench, but the way our interest wasn’t even given a thought by the player is a worrying thing.

Then, following this news on the same morning, came reports that Tottenham had moved ahead of us as favourites to sign the Icelandic international, Gylfi Sigurdsson from Hoffenheim. This was of serious concern. Given how much he impressed last season, not to mention his Premier League experience, age, potential fee/bargain potential, he would’ve represented a good bit of business for the club. And following Brendan Rodger’s move up from Swansea, it appeared as if the Reds were in pole (or, more like sole) position to sign the attacking midfielder.

On the one hand, it would seem to be a strange move that Tottenham are considering making a signing without a manager being in place, but on the other it’s perhaps more concerning that Sigurdsson might be thinking about a move to a club that doesn’t even have a manager, over us.

We’re very aware that, in terms of attracting players, our star has fallen considerably in recent years and we were probably incredibly lucky that there wasn’t a greater interest in Luis Suarez when we moved in to sign him up last year but the level of player that appear to be either turning their noses up at our interest or choosing clubs that, in the past, we would’ve easily seen off in the transfer market is of grave concern. Make no mistake, this isn’t us taking on giants such as Barcelona or Real Madrid for the new Messi or Ronaldo, this is a couple of players a few tiers below that who really look to have chosen moves to a couple of clubs that up until a few seasons ago would’ve lost out to us each and every time.

Another Liverpool target that may have had his head turned is Porto winger James Rodriguez. Having found himself linked – albeit, tentatively – with the Reds in recent months, the last few days have revealed that Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is weighing up a bid and, should both clubs submit a bid, I’d be surprised to see the 20 year old Columbian international look any further than Old Trafford.
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Now, many may just look at this as a number of players weighing up their options and simply choosing to move to a different club and, being the usual eternal optimist that I am, I would agree, more often than not. However, the amount of players being heavily linked with a move out of the club would suggest that there is a pattern emerging. Both Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger have been linked to Manchester City in the past fortnight and it would seem it is simply a case of whichever player City opts for will be on his way out.

It has been a long time since we’ve been in this position, struggling to interest good players (never mind any great ones) and seemingly having to let our best players leave to in order to fund the moves for these players but it’s been coming for some time now, with barely a transfer window since 2009-10 passing us by without a top player moving on or a top transfer target turning us down.

At the moment, we appear to be in something of a vicious circle – season of under-performing, new manager, new manager unable to attract top targets, season of under-performing, new manager, etc. and this summer seems to have followed on in much the same way. It was always a concern for me personally, that a manager of Brendan Rodger’s reputation (that’s reputation, not calibre) would not be a huge pull for most of the good-to-very good players across Europe, and it would seem that that has become the case with players like Sigurdsson and Borini feeling their futures are better served elsewhere.

One of my primary reasons for backing Benitez to return as manager was his reputation across Europe, the reputation that brought in the likes of Alonso, Torres and Mascherano and I wouldn’t be surprised if the installation of the young British manager has sent a signal out to a number of our transfer targets: this is a new coach, starting a new project and, while that is hardly anybody’s fault, unfortunately most high-quality young players (or even those in their mid-twenties) are ambitious and want to move to clubs that are either already in, or will be challenging for, Champions League places or league titles. That is just a plain fact.

Of course, this could all just be gossip and paper talk because, as far as we’re aware, there haven’t been any official bids or approaches for any of these probable targets but, as they say, there’s no smoke without fire. Losing out to Barcelona, Madrid, Inter or any of the top clubs across Europe I can usually stomach but the day one of our preferred targets turns us down in favour of a club like Tottenham will be a very sad day indeed. Still it’s early days yet and until anybody starts actually putting in some bids, we won’t know for sure who’s going where but should the rumours prove true, it may be the time to start worrying.
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I'm a 32 year old Liverpool fan, living in the heart of the City Centre. I've supported the club since the day I was born and have been writing articles for L4L for over 3 years, writing close over 350 articles in that time. My favorite player of the past generation is Sami Hyypia.

I am the current editor for L4L, with my day job being in R&D for the NHS.

20 comments

  • wake me up when its over says:

    ok ok ok !! getin fed up with all this media talk if liverpool wanna win things we need some players that can keep the ball and do the goals !! if players dont step up when season starts they must go in the next transfer in jan they get paid enough
    as for this transfer …i would like any good player come …but lets face it …liverpool are not running round getin any player are they ??
    is john henry the new hicks 20m to spend

  • Nick says:

    I agree with this well written article however, what you have failed to mention is the Brendan has employed scouts from Manchester City who are well recognised in football. As a Liverpool fan, I understand that success can not come over night let alone over a summer break but I do believe Brendan will lay down the foundation for the near future. Hopefully he’ll sign Gylfi. YNWA.

  • You heard says:

    I agree some what. I think its more of what have you done for me lately and to be honest our beloved Reds have been wetting the bed. We need a strong season and NO negative press (Suarez & Suso) to get back on the radar. It would be great to get top 4 but even if we land in the 5th spot and a few points away from the 4th that will begin to right the ship for potential targets looking for Anfield Road.

    Also, the targets mentioned in this article are looking for a big pay day. They havent earned that yet. If they feel they deserve it – more power to them but I feel FSG have been burned and they will not be bullied to over paying weekly salaries for potential.

    YNWA

  • steve mcauley says:

    the only name i have actually heard Brendan Rodgers mention is Sigurdsson! We sre linked with everyone and his bloody dog at the minute and personally, i think the vast majority of it is hack reporters trying to sell rags, and greedy agents trying to line their pockets!
    I trust BR to buy the players HE wants to suit HIS system & FSG’s criteria, so until Brendan says it, I won’t pay much attention to it!

  • rich says:

    The first person we should buy is zaha from palace he will be a star

  • Lee says:

    David Tyrer,

    If you can tell us all now who our targets are then maybe you can tell us on our targets we’ve missed out on. I’m guessing like ever other lazy journo you haven’t a clue. If you were paid for this then you should return the cash

  • Martyn says:

    How can we be missing out on targets when the transfer window is not even open yet. Players that don’t want to play for liverpool have no need to come to this glorious club. Player who want to play will come. YNWA

  • NJRedsFan says:

    Should we be concerned? Absofrikinlutely!! Let’s all work ourselves into a full-blown tizzy over all of the crap that is published based on rumors and innuendo. Remember folks, the Liverpool way.

  • Nigel says:

    I think everyone needs to chillax! If gylfi goes to spurs, there will be someone else to look at. We need players who are committed to lfc this season. And if this guy wants a bigger pay packet, let spurs have him in my opinion. If we can crack that top 4 spot this season and it’s a big if, we can attract better players. I’d rather have cristian Eriksen of ajax anyhow. Transfer window isn’t quite open and I hope lfc keep things under wraps so we don’t get gazumped like we seemingly have with gylfi.

  • Nigel says:

    P.s it’s good fsg don’t want to waste big money on wages cos lets face it – cole, aqualani, Henderson, Adam, downing, Carroll are prob getting £30k a week more than their level of ability should get. That’s not their fault of course. That’s the negotiators mismanaging of our budgets

  • Shibashis says:

    It is concerning to see that young players who have previously worked with Rogers are turning us down, leave alone those who do not know him.
    Perhaps we can disregard Borini, it seems he had his mind made up on staying with Roma in his home country. However Sigurdsson’s change of mind (at least thats what it seems like from the articles on different papers) is alarming to me.
    But these are early days still, so…

  • sleeps with angels says:

    I trust the new manager 100%

  • sleeps with angels says:

    ……And so should you! ynwa

  • kfax says:

    Let’s be clear fsg are not gonna spend big on transfers so I wouldn’t worry who we’re gonna sign as they will not be world beaters. Fsg spent 300 million acquiring the club and want a return. All the smoke and mirrors about a new stadium/ redeveloped anfield is exactly that. Fsg will buy cheap players and flip on. Champions league football is a bonus not a target for them despite what they say. They didnt buy Liverpool for the love of the club as they are business men. It is a good long term investment. Rafa wasn’t interviewed because we wants to win but to win you need to spend big and that’s not part of the model. Look forward to a financially stable unsuccessful club.

    • kumber says:

      is that right, the same fsg that bought the red sox, two years later they won a world series for the first time in like 50 years. then two years after that they won it again. oh ya rafa was not interviewed because he is a cancer, that would destroy the club from the inside to outside. again.

    • Moocher says:

      We spent big before & look where that got us. We need the right signings not necessarily for big money. We need players who have something to prove & show it at LFC. So stop getting wrapped up with big spend ideas. We have to be shrewd with the signings.

  • david says:

    If Brendan wants Sigurdesson and loses out to spurs, he has failed on his first test. He has to realise its dog eat dog at the bigger clubs and I critisized his honesty and being a gentleman to his past Swansea by allowing the player time and Swansea to speak to him first. You are Liverpool manager now, forget Swansea, you want the player get him straight away !!!! Painful way to learn this lesson, because without doubt he is a fantastic player and will score lots of goals, link up play with whoever he signs for and at 8 mil a bloody bargain ! Hats of to spurs who obviously have a recruiting system which works regardless of a manager, this is what our owners are trying to put in place here. The truth is, Spurs have become a more attractive option to anyone outside Liverpool, and that’s a reality hard to swallow

  • kagu says:

    We have to face, Liverpool is no longer attractive, so why could we do? Gamble on young players? Try to take some mercenary? I really don’t know who could and would come to anfield to add to the team?
    but one thing sure : current players need to work a lot and we have to help them.
    YNWA

  • Effect says:

    Get JOE ALLEN, CLIENT DEMPSEY, ADAM JOHNSON, HUGO LLORIS. sell reina, spearing, charlie adam, downing. Our line up for now should be. HUGO LLORIS, GLEN JOHNSON, MARTIN SKRTEL, DANIEL AGGER, AQUILANI, LUCAS LAVIA, JOE ALLEN, ADAM JOHNSON/STURRIDGE, CLIENT DEMPSEY (ANDY CARROLL), LUIS SUAREZ.

  • Ibrahim says:

    We need to go in for the likes of Gaston Ramirez, Junior Hoilett, Try for Gonzalo Higuain and even Falcao (due to Athletico still owing money on him), Adam Johnson, maybe even Wilfred Zaha, if players that Rodgers seriously believes and goes in for that may improve our team dont come to us for one reason or another, then we should look to bring through our youth players then wasting money on second choice players. We to try out the likes of Coady, Suso, Sterling, Morgan, Adjorjan, etc in league cup and europa games one or two of them at a time to see if they can seriously make the cut.

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